{"id":44943,"date":"2020-01-09T16:56:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T19:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/?p=44943"},"modified":"2021-04-01T11:07:56","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T14:07:56","slug":"sikhs-enlist-in-us-air-force-will-wear-turbans-beards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/09\/sikhs-enlist-in-us-air-force-will-wear-turbans-beards\/","title":{"rendered":"Sikhs Enlist in US Air Force, Will Wear Turbans, Beards"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"In June, A1C Sunjit Rathour became the first Sikh to graduate<\/a> US Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB while wearing his turban and beard. In September he was the first to graduate from the Security Forces course.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Gurchetan Singh will soon go to basic training<\/a> before he joins the 194th Air National Guard wing as a Sikh wearing the articles of his faith.<\/p>\n

While the ability to exercise one’s faith is important to one’s own religious practice, A1C Rathour also explained why it can be important for others<\/em>:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Though he looked a little different from the other Security Forces graduates, the younger Rathour said he got along well with his peers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were more curious than anything, so they loved to ask questions<\/strong> and I had no trouble answering,\u201d he said. \u201cThey wonder what the beard is about, what the turban is about, what my religion is<\/strong>, and they asked me how I got the religious accommodation…\u201d<\/p>\n

The airmen found it fascinating<\/strong>, he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There’s a reason for a public witness, or even something as subtle as a cross around your neck or a Bible on your desk. It doesn’t convert people by proximity, as some critics seem to think — but it can start a conversation.<\/p>\n

Sikhs are allowed to express and exercise their faith even in uniform.<\/p>\n

Christians are, too.<\/p>\n

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ADVERTISEMENT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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